Epic Calder Race 2024-25

[karltonian]

After tonight's game, the Calder is by far in Celebrini's favor. San Jose is a an absolute abysmal of a team. He has no business thriving as an 18 years old with that pitiful of a roster he has to play with.

he's carrying the entire team right now, an 18 year old kid. it's f***ing insane that there are 18 other players on the ice that are so incompetent.

 

[coooldude]

I don't think the game tonight moved the Calder odds in any direction. Michkov had two good and dangerous shots, but was otherwise invisible and I don't think got much PP time. Celebrini played a high event game with some bad turnovers, some standout D plays, a post, a saved 1:1 chance, a great pass into Rutta on the doorstep, and a deceptive shot that almost snuck through but was covered on the goal line. No points though.

As for the game, felt exactly like all of last year, which is that the Sharks were dog shit and had very little going for them most of the game, aside from Celebrini and a handful of other chances. Philly just dominated possession.

 

[karltonian]

I don't think the game tonight moved the Calder odds in any direction. Michkov had two good and dangerous shots, but was otherwise invisible and I don't think got much PP time. Celebrini played a high event game with some bad turnovers, some standout D plays, a post, a saved 1:1 chance, a great pass into Rutta on the doorstep, and a deceptive shot that almost snuck through but was covered on the goal line. No points though.

As for the game, felt exactly like all of last year, which is that the Sharks were dog shit and had very little going for them most of the game, aside from Celebrini and a handful of other chances. Philly just dominated possession.

I do have to say the michkov cherry picking was really something. Really noticeable, especially when Celebrini has to literally do it all to get a chance, across all 200 ft of ice. If he tried to cherry pick he'd never get the puck.

 

[coooldude]

I do have to say the michkov cherry picking was really something. Really noticeable, especially when Celebrini has to literally do it all to get a chance, across all 200 ft of ice.

To be fair to Michkov, it was the whole Philly team, meaning it was probably something they scouted or something they do.

 

[StrawHatEklund]

Celebrini was literally the entire Sharks offense tonight. I saw Michkov cherry picking to a ludicrous degree. The fact he can even do that shows where these teams are in relative terms, not that celebrini cherry picks ever.

Seeing the cherry-picking live was interesting to say the least (we’re so bad I couldn’t imagine a player even contemplating it). Michkov got a breakaway by chilling/cheating in the neutral zone while his team was playing 5 vs 4 on defense in the 2nd period. Fortunately, Georgiev shut him down.

 

[TimAllen]

The Flyers cherry picking "scouting" was likely the result of them seeing that Cody Ceci is on the Sharks top pairing and laughing for twenty minutes. This team absolutely reeks and completely relies on an 18 year old to generate any offense right now.

 

[JadedRandom]

Right now my Calder winner would be Celebrini. Dude is just a special player with amazing offensive ability whilst also not being bad defensively.

But my #2 wouldn't be any of Michkov, Hutson, and the usual suspects; It'd be Dustin Wolf.

He's playing very well overall, getting a good amount of games as a rookie goaltender, in what is arguably the hardest position to play in the NHL. And I've frankly been very impressed each time I've watched Wolf play so far this season.

Celebrini is clearly my top Calder pick, and Dustin Wolf would clearly be my second, but third place gets a lot more contested for me as both Michkov and Hutson would be deserving of the Calder Trophy's "bronze medal" if you will.

Michkov is having an amazing season offensively, and he's improved his 5-on-5 play a lot since October though there are still rough nights for him (and the Flyers as a whole).

Michkov has seemingly single-handedly re-invigorated a moribund Philadelphia powerplay with his creativity and quick decisions on the ice, using a lot of the ice surface in brilliant and unexpected ways instead of the usual small areas, which has been very impressive to see.

Hutson is having a great season offensively too, but after a very strong start that culminated with him finally getting #1PP opportunities, teams have started to adjust to him more.

Since December or so, opposing players have started pressuring Hutson a lot more at the blueline when teammates don't give him a clean pass, or whenever circumstances make it so that Hutson doesn't have the puck cleanly on his stick when establishing possession.

Inversely, if Hutson gets possession of the puck in a more clear-cut manner, I've noticed that in recent games opposing checkers back-off almost entirely, not challenging Hutson 1-on-1 and just staying content trying to block passing lanes (shooting lanes too, but they don't really respect Hutson's shot so they definitely cheat on shooting lanes in favor of passing lanes).

To people who have watched all of Hutson's games in the NHL so far (like me) the change is pretty stark, and a flattering sign for Hutson that teams have started to key-in on him in that manner.

However, as a result of those adjustments that teams have made I've noticed that Hutson has started coughing-up the puck a lot more at the blueline and turning it over more frequently than he used to do to start the year.

Or at least that was the case until more recently (mid-December on roughly) Hutson has started passing the puck more quickly and defaulting to his D partner (Matheson on the right side) a lot more, playing a more controlled type of game offensively that I think translates to more sustained long-term success for him.

So yeah, right now I'd basically have a two-way tie for third in the Calder race with Michkov and Hutson jointly taking that spot, but I will admit that the race for the Calder has been an interesting and exciting one to watch.

I'm hoping for the goalie to win it all this year as it's really rare that we get a rookie goaltender that has a good-enough season to realistically contend for the Calder.

 

[wetcoast]

Celebrini as we speak is still the early favorite but Lane is right there breathing down his back.

Vegas and the forum and the next poll of actual voters probably as disagree but it's great to have hope.

 

[ole ole]

Vegas and the forum and the next poll of actual voters probably as disagree but it's great to have hope.

Ya to bad insiders seem to disagree with you and this great board but what do insiders know.

 

[Fatass]

Hutson. He’s carrying his team to a .500 record that no one expected.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Hutson. He’s carrying his team to a .500 record that no one expected.

He's won you over?

Last 16 games, 5vs5, 18gf 13ga, 15 points. He's now -1 at 5vs5, just like Celebrini.

 

[wetcoast]

Ya to bad insiders seem to disagree with you and this great board but what do insiders know.

What insiders, except for some vocal everything Habs fans?

Celebrini is easily the guy to beat right now.

 

[Guy Larose]

 

[domiwroze]

Wow look at how silent this thread is now.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

What insiders, except for some vocal everything Habs fans?

Celebrini is easily the guy to beat right now.

Named rookie of the month by the NHL, but I guess those don't qualify?

 

[Habssince89]

What insiders, except for some vocal everything Habs fans?

Celebrini is easily the guy to beat right now.

Take the hater glasses off

 

[JianYang]

Named rookie of the month by the NHL, but I guess those don't qualify?

It doesn't count because he should be in the ahl.

 

[GHJimmy]

It doesn't count because he should be in the ahl.

Some people just cope hard sometimes lol

 

[wetcoast]

Named rookie of the month by the NHL, but I guess those don't qualify?

While we have been talking about the whole year calder race but sure that propelled him to second.

This is the most current Vegas odds.

2024-25 Calder Memorial Trophy Odds​

• Macklin Celebrini (Sharks) -175
• Matvei Michkov (Flyers) +210
• Lane Hutson (Canadiens) +700
• All other players listed at +10000 or higher

Take the hater glasses off

I'm surprised that you can even see me on the west coast with those homer Hab ones on eh?

For the record I would have Hutson #2 on my ballot with Michkov 3rd and Wolf 4th.

 

[coooldude]

Remember everyone, if someone thinks your team's player is NOT the outright favorite AINEC, then they are an idiot who hates you and doesn't know anything about hockey or anything else.

 

[Habssince89]

I'm surprised that you can even see me on the west coast with those homer Hab ones on eh?

For the record I would have Hutson #2 on my ballot with Michkov 3rd and Wolf 4th.

I'm a homer for saying Hutson deserves to be in the conversation? It's ridiculous to exclude him when he's producing essentially the same points as two forwards and providing way more than just scoring to boot. A defenceman doing what Hutson is doing deserves your respect. And I don't believe for a minute you'd have him at #2

 

[Barrie22]

Named rookie of the month by the NHL, but I guess those don't qualify?

Talk to us when it is the nhl player of the month.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Talk to us when it is the nhl player of the month.

Wait, did Celebrini win player of the month? No.

 

[Barrie22]

Wait, did Celebrini win player of the month? No.

Sorry player of the week 1st star for all players.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Sorry player of the week 1st star for all players.

Omg, he won player of the week? Give him the Calder right now.